What Tripepi Smith does

Tripepi Smith & Associates, Inc. is a private, founder-owned professional services firm co-founded in 2002 by Ryder Todd Smith (President) and Nicole Tripepi Smith, CPA (CFO) and headquartered (via a Ladera Ranch mailing address) in Irvine, California. The firm positions itself as a "single source communications" provider to the California public sector, delivering marketing, technology, and public affairs consulting to more than 200 public, private, and non-profit clients — primarily California cities, counties, special districts, Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), professional associations, and higher education institutions. Its deepest client relationship is with the California City Management Foundation, dating to 2001.

The firm's service portfolio spans graphic design and branding, photography and videography, web design and a Cloud Webmaster hosting/support product, social media management, media intelligence (via Meltwater), email campaigns (Constant Contact), crisis and ballot-measure outreach, association management, districting outreach, organics recycling communications, and training. It operates three sub-brands: TS Talent Solutions (executive and organizational recruitment for municipalities), PublicCEO (a digital news publication covering California local government), and LINK/Local Information Network of Knowledge (a community forum for California public agencies). The technology stack is conventional marketing tooling — WordPress, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Meltwater, Constant Contact, Google Analytics, Adobe Creative Suite — with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary platform, or API offering.

Tripepi Smith makes money through project-based and retainer professional services engagements priced on a quote basis, with revenue derived from a distributed book of municipal and association clients rather than a small set of enterprise anchors. Go-to-market is anchored in deep association sponsorships (Diamond with CAPIO and MMANC, Principal with Cal Cities, Platinum with CCCA, OCCMA, and SGVCMA, plus Silver with Cal-ICMA and CSDA) and ongoing thought-leadership content (the City Internet Strategies Study, PublicCEO, the Civic Business Journal, and a monthly newsletter archive going back to 2012). The firm is founder-led, privately held, has no disclosed institutional investors or funding rounds, and reports 70-plus team members distributed across California under a remote operating model.

Name

Tripepi Smith

Legal name

Tripepi Smith & Associates, Inc.

Website

https://tripepismith.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tripepi Smith is a California-based, founder-owned marketing, technology, and public affairs consulting firm serving 200-plus local government agencies, special districts, CCAs, associations, higher education institutions, and nonprofits with single-source communications, branding, web, video, media intelligence, and ballot-measure outreach services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Affairs and Government Communications Consulting

NAICS

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Other Motion Picture and Video Industries (512199)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF), News Agencies & Wire Services (General & Specialized) (MPAJADAE)

Keywords

• Public affairs consulting
• Government communications
• Marketing services
• Creative services
• Association management

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services Consulting: Tripepi Smith generates revenue through providing marketing, technology and public affairs consulting services to local government agencies, special districts, associations, higher education institutions, nonprofits, CCAs, and private sector clients. Services include graphic design, videography, photography, media outreach, web design, association management, ballot measure outreach, and training.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tripepi Smith is a full-service marketing, technology, and public affairs consulting firm that delivers single-source communications to local government agencies, special districts, associations, CCAs, higher education institutions, and nonprofits across California. The firm provides graphic design, videography, photography, website design and hosting (Cloud Webmaster), social media management, media intelligence, association management, ballot measure outreach, crisis communications, and training services.

Product overview

Tripepi Smith is a full-service marketing, technology, and public affairs consulting firm serving local government clients. The company offers a portfolio of service offerings rather than a unified software product, including communication support, graphic design, videography, web design, training, and specialized services for sectors like Community Choice Aggregators and ballot measure outreach. The company operates sub-brands including TS Talent Solutions (recruitment services), PublicCEO (news publication), and LINK (resource-sharing platform). The core offering centers on single-source communications where the same team delivers multiple service capabilities across creative, digital, and strategic communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TS Talent Solutions: Talent solutions and recruitment services for local government sector, including executive recruitment and organizational development
• PublicCEO
• LINK (Local Information Network of Knowledge)

Products and services

• Cloud Webmaster
• Association Management
• Ballot Measure Outreach
• CCA Marketing Services
• Communication Support
• Districting Outreach Services
• Event Production and Management Services
• Graphic Design and Branding
• Media Intelligence
• Organics Recycling Communication
• Photography and Videography
• Training
• Web Design and Support Services
• TS Talent Solutions
• PublicCEO
• LINK (Local Information Network of Knowledge)

Quantifiable outcome

• City of Atascadero achieved 70% voter approval to extend sales tax measure for street infrastructure
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond Level Partner. CAPIO is the state's leading organization for government communicators serving more than 500 professionals across California. Tripepi Smith supports this organization to give back to the field and stay engaged with issues affecting clients.
• California City Management Foundation (CCMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation Circle Sponsor. Tripepi Smith's longest-standing client relationship dating back to 2001. Provides communications and association management support including website development, membership recruitment video, and membership management system deployment.
• California Community Choice Association (CalCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelect Partner. CalCCA represents 24 of 25 operating CCAs serving more than 11 million customers across 200+ cities and counties. Partnership advances cleaner energy at affordable prices through education and advocacy.
• California Contract Cities Association (CCCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Associate Member. Founded in 1957, CCCA has grown to more than 70 member cities representing over seven million residents. Tripepi Smith has supported CCCA with strategic planning, website redesign, content management, social media, event photography and videography, writing, and metrics reporting for nearly two decades.
• California International City/County Management Association (Cal-ICMA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Level Sponsor. State chapter of ICMA providing networking, professional development and training opportunities that connect members statewide while promoting ethical management practices in local government.
• California Special Districts Association (CSDA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Level Sponsor. CSDA provides special districts with education and training, advocacy, legal and insurance programs and other resources that strengthen management and operational effectiveness statewide.
• Institute for Local Government (ILG)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Level Sponsor. ILG supports cities, counties and special districts with practical, impartial resources that strengthen local governance. Partnership has included logo and graphic design support, video production services and co-hosting annual educational webinars.
• League of California Cities (Cal Cities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Level Sponsor. Founded in 1898, Cal Cities advocates for local control through legislative action, ballot initiatives, court cases and public outreach. Organization provides education and training programs that equip city officials with the latest tools and insights.
• Municipal Management Association of Northern California (MMANC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond Level Partner. MMANC is an organization of more than 850 local government professionals and rising leaders across 49 counties. Tripepi Smith provides Association Management services including photography, brand refresh, website redesign, strategic planning, and has received the MMANC Booster Award and Legacy Award for Ryder Smith.
• Municipal Management Association of Southern California (MMASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiamond Level Partner. Leading association supporting emerging local government leaders with educational resources and networking opportunities. Tripepi Smith has supported MMASC through professional photography, video production and graphic design services.
• Orange County City Managers' Association (OCCMA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Sponsor. Provides a platform for city managers to exchange ideas, collaborate and share best practices, strengthening leadership and governance throughout the county.
• San Gabriel Valley City Managers' Association (SGVCMA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Sponsor. Regional subdivision of Cal Cities' City Managers' Department advancing organizational goals while supporting professional growth through meetings, seminars, events and collaborative discussions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SMG (annkutcher): Gorman Communications is a California-based public affairs and marketing firm serving local government agencies. It competes directly with Tripepi Smith in California municipal communications, web design, and public engagement services.
• Barbina Public Affairs: Barbina is a California public affairs and community outreach firm serving cities, special districts, and public agencies. It directly competes with Tripepi Smith on ballot measure outreach, community engagement, and public affairs consulting.
• Lew Edwards Group: Lew Edwards Group is a California-based public affairs, PR, and campaign firm serving public agencies, corporations, and nonprofits. It directly competes with Tripepi Smith on ballot measure outreach, media relations, and strategic communications.
• Imprenta Communications Group: Imprenta is a California-based communications and public affairs firm specializing in serving local government, schools, and public agencies with multilingual outreach. It competes directly with Tripepi Smith on community engagement and public-sector communications.
• RBB Communications: RBB Communications is a full-service PR and marketing firm serving public sector, consumer, and lifestyle clients. It competes with Tripepi Smith on public-sector communications strategy and integrated marketing services.
• Beatnik Marketing: Beatnik Marketing is a California-based creative agency providing branding, web design, and marketing services to municipalities and public agencies. It directly competes with Tripepi Smith's web design and graphic design services.

Regional players

• POLA (Pacific Omnis Local Agency): Pinnacle Technology Solutions is a regional IT and web services provider for local government. While not a direct marketing/PR competitor, it competes with Tripepi Smith's Cloud Webmaster and Web Design services in California municipalities.

Others

• 3CMA (City-County Communications and Marketing Association): 3CMA is the national professional association for local government communicators and marketers. It is not a competitor but a peer ecosystem organization whose Silver Circle Awards Tripepi Smith frequently wins, and whose membership overlaps with Tripepi Smith's client base.
• CAPIO (California Association of Public Information Officials): CAPIO is the leading California association for government communicators, serving 500+ professionals. As Tripepi Smith's Diamond-level partner, it is an ecosystem organization rather than a competitor, but its EPIC Awards program is a key industry benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• GovTech (e.Republic): GovTech is a major media and events company covering state and local government technology and communications. It competes with Tripepi Smith's PublicCEO publication in the California local government information space, though it is a much broader incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tripepismith
• Facebookfacebook.com/tripepismith

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tripepi Smith